Townsend, Tennessee - Fly Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, East Tennessee and Western North Carolina

Welcome to the Fishing Report from the Great Smoky Mountains. It is overcast and 34 degrees this morning. We may get some light snow today, less than ½ inch. The high temperature will be what it is now, 34 degrees.

Little River is flowing at 319 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.16 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is a 321 cfs. The water temperature is 32 degrees.

I expect fishing will be slow in the Smokies due to the cold water. You might catch a trout or two if you work hard at it. Use nymphs and get them down. Be careful wading. If you fall in, you will need to be near your truck and put on some dry clothing. It is going to be windy today so that won’t help at all. However, it will also be overcast. That does help.

We were busy yesterday getting ready for the Free Saturday Event that will be held today. We’ve got a great lineup of talented people for you to meet, learn from and enjoy the day with. Just show up.

Captain Dave Chouinard is here. He is our sales representative from Simms. Dave is also a tarpon guide living in Tampa. Dave will show you the new Simms gear due to be delivered soon. I’m sure he will talk about fly fishing for tarpon.

Buzz Buffington will be tying tailwater trout flies. He’s an expert, especially on the Clinch River. Buzz will be tying from 10 am until 2 pm.

Kent Edmonds will be tying and giving you a casting demonstration. He is an FFF Certified Casting Instructor. Kent invented the Stealth Bomber bass fly. He will be showing you how to tie those too. He is our Temple Fork and Rainy’s Flies sales representative.

Sarah Weeks, director of Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be here this morning at 10 am. Friends have raised $41 million for the Park so far. Everybody likes Sarah. She fly fishes and ties flies. Today she will be telling you about Friends. Sarah may have to leave early. Friends is holding their big fund raiser ball tonight. It is called the Evergreen Ball. Get here early to meet her.

Everything starts at 10 am and lasts until 2 pm. This event is free. All you have to do is show up.

We are also holding a Intermediate Fly Tying Class today. It will be taught by Walter Babb and Brian Courtney. The class is full with 8 students.

I hope to be directing traffic and running shuttles.

Today you can register to win a $100 LRO Gift Card. The winner will be drawn at 2 pm.

Dave Chouinard, Paula and I had dinner last night at the new Mexican Restaurant in Townsend. Man, the food was great and the service was excellent. There was a big crowd. I was impressed and I live with a chef. We need more restaurants that stay open during the Winter to attract visitors to our town. They will be getting our support.

Dave is blown away at our store remodel. It really is nice and customers love it. Business has grown since we changed the store. It is easier to shop. You can see our merchandise without looking for it. The second floor of our building has a 700 square foot fly tying department in addition to the classroom, computer room and offices.

We hope you can be here today. Though we hold free events almost every Saturday during the Winter, this one is bigger and more diverse. The Mexican Restaurant is also open for lunch.